MSI's Latest Creation: The MSI Claw

As we take a closer look at MSI's latest creation, the MSI Claw, it becomes apparent that this handheld gaming system is more than just a pretty face. From the outside, the Claw bears a lot of similarity to other handheld systems on the market, such as the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck. However, upon closer inspection, it's clear that MSI has packed a punch when it comes to performance.

One of the standout features of the Claw is its powerful Intel Core Ultra Series processors. These new processors promise some pretty interesting benefits, including improved performance and efficiency. But what exactly does this mean for gamers? In short, it means that the Claw will be able to handle demanding games with ease, making it a formidable competitor in the world of handheld gaming.

But it's not just about the hardware; MSI has also included some innovative features that set the Claw apart from other handheld systems. For one, the Claw comes equipped with Hall Effect joysticks and triggers right out of the box. This is a bold move, given that Valve had previously stated that they would not be using these components due to concerns over reliability. However, MSI seems to have found a way to make it work, and we're excited to see how this will affect the gaming experience.

Another feature that caught our attention was the integrated Thunderbolt 4 port. This allows users to run external graphics cards on the Claw, giving them access to even more powerful performance. While it's worth noting that this doesn't quite match the bandwidth of Asus's proprietary XG mobile graphics interface, it's still a significant improvement over other handheld systems.

But what really sets the Claw apart is its battery life. Intel claims that the Claw will have a full two hours of battery life running at maximum TDP, and more like eight hours when running in endurance mode. This is impressive, especially considering that some other handheld systems struggle to even last an hour on a single charge.

The Wi-Fi module on the Claw is also worth mentioning. Unlike some other handheld systems, which use soldered-in Wi-Fi modules, MSI has included one that can be easily swapped out or upgraded. This means that users will have access to faster download speeds and more reliable connectivity, making it easier to stay connected while gaming.

Of course, no handheld system would be complete without a good screen. And the Claw delivers in this regard, with a 1080p120Hz display that should provide smooth and responsive gameplay. The peak brightness is also impressive, reaching around 400-500 nits, which is well above average for a machine of this class.

As we explore the various components and features of the MSI Claw, it becomes clear that this handheld gaming system is more than just a novelty – it's a serious contender in the world of gaming. With its powerful processors, innovative features, and impressive battery life, the Claw has the potential to be one of the best handheld systems on the market.

MSI's Pricing Strategy

When it comes to pricing, MSI has opted for a strategy that offers flexibility and value for gamers. The Claw is available at three different price points, starting at $699. While this may seem steep, especially considering that some other handheld systems are priced similarly, we believe that the Claw's performance and features make it well worth the investment.

The middle-tier model looks like the best option in our opinion, given its balance of performance and affordability. The addition of a 512GB SSD, which can be easily upgraded by removing a few screws and popping in a new drive, is also a major plus. This means that users will have access to plenty of storage for their games and apps, without having to worry about running out of space.

Of course, no discussion of the MSI Claw would be complete without mentioning its competition. As we mentioned earlier, some other handheld systems are available at similar price points. However, it's worth noting that the Claw has a number of features that set it apart from these competitors, including its powerful processors and innovative features.

In conclusion, the MSI Claw is an impressive handheld gaming system that offers something for everyone. With its powerful processors, innovative features, and impressive battery life, this system has the potential to be one of the best on the market. Whether you're a casual gamer or a serious enthusiast, we believe that the Claw is worth considering.

Wicked Cushions: A Sponsorship Opportunity

As we continue our exploration of the MSI Claw, it's worth taking a moment to talk about a sponsor who has been making waves in the gaming community – Wicked Cushions. These cushions offer a range of innovative features and benefits for gamers, including added cooling gel and breathable materials.

For those who are looking for a way to keep their ears cool during long gaming sessions, Wicked Cushions is definitely worth considering. Their cushions are designed to provide maximum comfort and breathability, making it easy to stay focused on your game. And with over 25,000 reviews and a 365-day warranty, you can trust that these cushions will provide years of reliable service.

In addition to their innovative features and benefits, Wicked Cushions also offer a range of stylish designs and materials. Whether you're looking for something sleek and modern or something more rugged and durable, there's a Wicked Cushion design to suit your needs.

As we conclude our exploration of the MSI Claw, it's worth taking a moment to thank our sponsor – Wicked Cushions. For providing us with the opportunity to share their innovative products with the gaming community, and for helping to make this article possible.

CES Coverage

If you're interested in learning more about the latest developments in the world of technology, be sure to check out our CES coverage. We'll be sharing a range of articles and videos throughout the week, covering everything from the latest gadgets and innovations to the biggest trends and announcements.

From smartphones and smart home devices to gaming systems and virtual reality headsets, we'll be bringing you all the news and analysis that matters most to tech enthusiasts and gamers alike. So be sure to stay tuned for our CES coverage, and don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes peeks at what's happening in the world of technology.

Q&A

At this point in the article, we'd like to take a moment to answer some questions that you may have about the MSI Claw. From its powerful processors to its innovative features, we've got answers to all your burning questions.

Do you have a question about the MSI Claw? Leave it in the comments below and we'll do our best to provide an answer.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHere in MSI's booth, they're showing off everything from laptops and monitors to car chargersBut what I wasn't expecting was for them to get into a new category, which is paintYeah, I pulled you into the video just to make that joke, sorry CliffIn all seriousness though, the MSI claw does a lot more than just change the color of the existing handheld gaming systems on the marketFrom the outside, yeah, it bears a lot of similarity to a system like the ROG Ally or the Steam DeckBut on the inside, it is running Intel's all-new Core Ultra Series processorsWhich promises some pretty interesting benefits. I'll get to that in a bit. First,I want to talk about what's special about the outside. But first this message from our sponsorHeadphone juice is not something you should be proud of. These are your typical headphones that accumulate heat while you gameEw. Wicked Cushions add a cooling gel to their cushions to keep your ears sweat-freeYou can easily replace them on your headset. Check out Wicked Cushions at the link belowWhile you can get Hall Effect joysticks as an add-on for consoles like the Steam Deck, MSI has opted to go for bothHall Effect joysticks and triggers right out of the box with the ClawI wasn't expecting this move after Valve stated they opted not to use Hall Effect joysticks over reliability concernsBut given how much I prefer using them, it's definitely a welcome one to meEven if I don't know something could go wrong at some point. Other than thatThey've ticked all the important boxes. Dual stereo front-facing speakers that are not covered by your palmsLove to see it. An integrated fingerprint sensor in the power button. A micro SD slot thatHopefully doesn't overheat andGood enough feeling buttons and ergonomics that I don't expect this to be an issue whether you're more of aRested in front of you gamer, sit it in your lap gamer, or just hold it up gamer. Whether they came up with that ontheir own orBorrowed from their competitors. I don't know but realistically at this pointIt doesn't matter because there's one other standout feature that I absolutely love to see. Because they've gone IntelThey have an integrated Thunderbolt 4 port, which means that like the Ally you'll be able to run an external graphics card on the clawBut unlike the Ally you're not limited to Asus's proprietaryXG mobile graphics interface. Now Thunderbolt does have a disadvantageThis is Thunderbolt 4, not Thunderbolt 5, so it runs at half of the total bandwidth of Asus's solutionBut as long as you're not hooking a 4080 or a 4090 up to this thingYou can still get a healthy graphics boost by docking it to a GPU. And a part of what enables that is the strongCPU performance of the Meteor Lake Core Ultra 5 or Core Ultra 7 processors that are at the heart of these thingsWhich of course we're about to take a look at hereHey, no, no, you're not gonna break that one. What?You can try this one. I want the real one. Oh, is this just a dummy one? No, it's actually functional. OhWell, then why is this a sacrificial lamb? Because this one is more important. OkayFair enough to even get to open it for you guys at all. I had to sign away my lifeThey said they want two free sponsored videos if I break itYep.But you said this one's not important. Not as important. After all the shenanigans I've gotten up to in their booths over the yearsI'm surprised they're letting me do this at allbut I couldn't resist an opportunity to show off the very early prototype of our precision screwdriver kit coming soon to lttstore.com andbesides a big selling point of competing handhelds like especially the Steam Deck is the ease with which they can be opened up andUpgraded or repaired so I would like to see if that's something that can also be said about the ClawWe're off to a good start six screws all of which are the sameOhAnd a fairly easySingle piece back that gives us let's see. OhA dual heat pipe cooling system love to see it. My goodnessNo, what I didn't even think about itBut that was running Assassin's Creed Mirage and I could- I mean I'm in a show floor, but I could barely hear itNot bad MSI not badThere's actually a lot to appreciate in here for one thingLook at this battery. I was wondering how they packed a53 watt hour battery into this thing and I guess the answer is with a really funky shapebut that's a really good thing it contributes to a really even hand feel andIntel claims will give you a full two hours of battery life running full tilt at the35 watt maximum TDP that this thing will do when it's running on battery powerThey claim more like eight hours when it's running in the 10 watt endurance modeAnd there's more good newsThe Wi-Fi module is not soldered and we saw the importance of this when valveUpgraded the Steam Deck to the Steam Deck OLED and we saw a dramatic increase in download speeds when they went from Wi-Fi 5 toWi-Fi 6e of courseThat's gonna be less of an issue on the claw in the first place because it ships with Wi-Fi 7 meaning you're probably gonna runInto a CPU bottleneck for downloading games before you max out your Wi-Fi as an added bonus with that chipWhile you can use the three and a half millimeter headphone microphone combo jackIt's Bluetooth 5.4Meaning that with a compatible headset you can expect much lower latency even over traditionally kind of crappy BluetoothComing back to that CPU againThere are two different chips that you might find in the MSI Claw the Core Ultra 5 135H or the Core Ultra 7155H both of them have two of what Intel are calling low power efficiency coresWhich are basically just the same as their regular efficiency cores, but built on a different process and tuned to handle background tasksThey both have eight regular efficiency cores. And then the difference is they have either four or sixPerformance or P cores so depending on the triple-A games that you might want to playIt could make more sense to go for the 155H especially given the relatively low difference in price.End of Q1?Yes.At three different price points starting at $699 with the middle one looking like the best one in my mind because that512 gig SSD can easily be upgraded just by removing a few screws and popping in a new2230 m.2 SSD. Oh and all my excitement about the speeds and feedsI kind of glossed over a major detail. The screen is 1080p120 Hertz and should reach a peak brightness of around 400 to 500 nitsSo about what you'd expect for a machine of this class, just like you'd expect this segue to our sponsorAre your headphones cushions hot like a tiny steam room?Stop steaming your ears like your broccoli. Wicked cushions offer all sorts of cushion replacement for your headphonesAnd it's not just your regular cushions. With added dual layer cooling gelThey ensure you keep a cool head even your team is feeding. Looking for a crack? Wicked cushion gives you a crack free comfortThey use top-notch materials like breathable sport fabric and memory foam. With over 25,000 reviews and a365 days to fall in love warranty. Don't listen to me listen to your ears this timeCheck out wicked cushions at the link below. If you guys enjoyed this videoHopefully you're enjoying the rest of our CES coverage. And if you're not well go watch it. I know you willEnjoy it that is I don't know you'll watch it. I hope you do\n"